Color Speaks Campaign
The unprecedented repercussions from COVID- 19 immediately altered our urban spaces, in Seattle and globally— windows and doors were boarded up, and streets became an unwelcome sea of plywood. Optimism propelled the design team to tackle this visual malaise, and the initiative Color Speaks was formed, with a single question in mind: can color save our cities? Partnering with small business owners, the designers volunteered their time to paint vibrant murals that reflected each shop’s distinct personality and voice. Based on this collaboration, the once barren plywood of each storefront was enlivened with uplifting messages of hope that spoke to the community. Inspired by this engagement with local business owners and recognizing the impact these murals had on the local community, the team created a toolkit that could be utilized by the public to craft their own messages and designs. The opensource nature of the kit has allowed Color Speaks to reach a global audience across multiple countries, and the
group plans to continue brightening cityscapes with colorful murals across the planet. The project embraced joy as an act of resilience against the negativity during quarantine. The delight each mural sparked was palpable as numerous community members shared their feelings with the artists. The overall sentiment was clear: color can bring hope.
The Challenge
When this initiative began last summer, our world revolved primarily around the inner walls of our homes. When we did venture out, our neighborhoods were virtually unrecognizable with plywood façades shuttering the doors and windows of our favorite local haunts. With unprecedented repercussions from COVID- 19 weighing heavily upon us, optimism is one thing that continues to propel us forward. Our Designers sought to revitalize and beautify our cities. The design team wanted to send a message of resilience and that design can inspire hope in uneven times.
Design + Execution
Color Speaks was initially created to study how color can bring hope and optimism to the future of our cities. The team enlisted Color Speaks with the hope that it would positively impact our collective well- being. The goal of the initiative was to encourage others to join in revitalizing storefronts and transforming abandoned streets into beautiful splashes of uplifting colors and positive messages. The teams worked collaboratively with store owners to create each unique design and message.
Project Details
Design Team
Sara Thompson, Ryan Collier, Krista Reeder, (art directors), Krista Reeder, Ryan Collier, Sara Thompson, Tim Kamp, Abby Manzo, Audrey Handelman, Nataliya Povstyanaya, Laura Bishop, Max Cantu-Lima, Jeanne Coehlo, Brent Fairbairn, Edgardo Caceres, Josellyn Osuna, Mia Park, Leticia Murray, Giselle Sheeran, Kathleen Sampang, Bryna Fiedler, Guy Williams, Anna Mikolajczak, Kristie Fultz, Alex Burkholder, Sarah McCracken, Bezaleel Balan, Bryan Walsingham, Irwin Miller, Riley Atlas, Taryn Costello, (designers)
Photo Credits
Gensler
Open Date
April 2020